Kurt Nilsen

Kurt Erik Nilsen (born September 29, 1978 in Bergen, Norway), won the Norwegian version of the television show Pop Idol, aired on TV 2 in May 2003. He won with 53 % of the votes against Gaute OrmÃ¥sen. His subsequent single, "She's So High", written by Tal Bachman, went straight to number one in the Norwegian singles chart and is among the biggest-selling singles in Norway to date. His debut album was I.

He subsequently won the vote for the World Idol title on January 1, 2004, singing the hit "Beautiful Day" by U2, beating competitors from ten other nations, including favourite Kelly Clarkson from the United States, and scoring the first place in 10 out of 11 voting countries. In the show presenting the entries on December 25, Ian Dickson, the Australian judge, said: "You have the voice of an angel, but you look like a Hobbit. If this were Middle-earth Idol you'd walk it." Kurt's gap-toothedness did not seem to bother the viewers and voters, though.

His second CD, A Part Of Me, released in 2004, contains only his own material.